Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-05
Senate.

Among the papers presented by the pre-
siding officer, was a communication from
the Secretary of War, with copies OF all
dispatches from General Miles, referring to
the surrender of Geronimo, and the instruc
tions and correspondence therein called fo1
by the recent resolution. Ordered printed
| Piatt. from the Committee on Territories
reported the Senate Bill to validate and
cure defects in certain acts OF the Legisla.
ture OF Washington Territory. Passed.
| The consideration OF the naval appropri
| alton bill was resumed, the question being
! on Plumb's amendment to strike out the
amendment of the committee of the item
! OF six millions for heavily armored vessels
or armored floating batteries or rams to be
| used for coast and harbor defense. The
| amendment wss rejected without division.
The amendment recommended by the COM
| mittee was then adopted without division.
1t strikes out the House provision
for two swift double bottomed
steel cruisers and four gunboats, all to
cost Exclusive OF armament) not more
| than $4.95O.OOO and inserts in lieu thereof
a section providing for the construction by
contract of ak protected steel cruisers.
with suitable armament and speed OF not
less than twenty knots, the cost of all the
cruisers not to exceed $9,OOO,OOO. Addi.
tional appropriations are made for ma
chinery and armament. One of the vessels
is to lie built on the Pacific Coast and two
on or near the coast OF the Gull of
NJ xico. For every quarter of a
knot OF speed over twenty knots
the contractor, is to receive 5O,OOO and
for every quarter of knot under twenty
knots, $50, 900 will be deducted from the
contract price.
Further appropriations are made as
follows: For the construction of heavily
armored vessels or armored floating bat
teries or rams to he used for coast and
harbor defense, $4,000, 900; for the con-
struction OF light draught gunboats, suit
able for the interior water ways and canal
service, $72O.OOO; for the construction
OF torpedo boats of the highest attainable
speed and efficiency. $6OO,OOO. For tor
pedoes and other explosives and torpedo
appliances, to be operated on naval vessels
and floating batteries or rams, $500. 900,
of which sum $50, 600 shall be Immediately
available. For the armament of these ves-
sells, $1,SOO,OOO. These appropriations
to be available during five years.
The next material amendment reported
agreed to by the Senate was tae following:
For the purchase by the Secretary of the
Navy (if he shall deem the purchase advis-
able) of the Destroyer, screw steam ves-
sci of iron, designed and built by Captain
John Ericsson, $4,000.
Mr.. Aldrich offered an amendment, ap-
propriating $25, 900 for the purchase of the
Stiletto, to be used as a torpedo boat
for experimental purpose. Agreed to.
The bill and amendments were then
reported to the Senate. (The former pro-
ceedings being supposed to have been in
committee of the whole.) Mr.. Edmunds
called for the yeas and nays on the amend
ment for six cruisers, etc.
Mr.. Plumb moved to amend the amend
ment by making the last paragraph read.
that the material used iu all naval struc.
lures provided for in this act and arma-
ment for the same shall be, as far as prac-
ticable, OF American production and shall
he furnished and manufactured in the
United States, etc. Agreed to.
The next amendment was the inser.
tion of the item of $4,000 for
the purchase OF Ericsson's vessel, the De-
stroyer. 1t was agreed to. The bill as
amended was then passed without di-
vision.
Mr.. Hoar, from the Conference Commit
tee on the Pacific Railroad Inquiry bill.
made a report, which was agreed to. The
bill now goes to the President.
On motion of Malone, the Senate bill for
the erection OF a national memorial bridge
over the Potomac from Washington to
Arlington was taken up and passed. 1t ap-
propriates $5OO.OOO to the construction
OF bridge which is erected in honor of
Lincoln and Grant. The vote was. yeas
30; nays, 18.
The conference report Oh the Agricultural
bill was made and agreed to.